Fabric take-up and stop motion device for knitting machines



8'9. 1.932. Y H. swlNGLEl-IURST 1,870,879;

FABRIC TAKE-UP AND sToP MOTION DEVICE FOR RNITTING MACHINES I Filed June 27, 195o a sheets-sheet 1 :qf

Aug. 9, 1932. H. swlN/ GLr-:H'URST 1,870,879

FABRIC TAKE-UP AND STOP MOTION DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES jiled June 27, 195o 3 sheetssnget 2 llllllllll Aug. 9, 1932. H. swlNGLEHURsT 1,370,879

. FABRIC TAKE-UP AND STOP MOTION DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES I l Filed Junezv, 195o s sheets-sheet 5v Je f5 ,fnqfnzvr I I I 20 aid of the knocking-over Patented Aug. a, 1932 4UNI'IED STATES PATENT. orifice HARRY SWINGLHURST, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SCOTT & WILLIAMS,

INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION F MASSACHUSETTS FABRIC TAKE-UP AND STOP MOTION AZDIVICII FOR KNITTING MACHINES Application led .Tune 27,

This invention relates to knitting machines adapted to manufacture broad widths of cloth, and includes devices particularly useful in connection with circular machines 5 of large diameter providing for a regulated tension of the fabric at the needles by imposing a take-up stress governed in accordance with the production of the machine; and further provides devices acting to stop the machine in case of improper operation, in-

cluding a partial press-oli of the fabric at a. narrow segment or part of the periphery of the needles; and other cases of improper operation.

to, which are relied upon to produce broad widths of cloth for the cutting and sewing trades, it is usual to provide some form of take-up device for stressino the 'fabric in 2function of the spring or latch'needles relied upon to produce the fabric. Numerous expedients ofl the prior art for this general purpose exist in connection with machines in which the needle carriers are relatively stationary, but I am aware of no wholly satisfactory 4device for taln'ng the fabric away from the needles which can be applied to machines in which a needle carrier or needle carriers ,rotate in respect to relatively fixed cams operating upon the needles to knit, which can also beA relied upon automatically to stop the machine upon the occurrence of a cast-olii' or rupture of the fabric not substantially coexistent with the Whole width of fthe'fabric being made. When the machine is of the `fkindhaving a rotary needle cylinder or cylinder and dial, the fabric tube produced by the needles rotates lvvith these negdle car- 40 riers, andv this implies providing'a wind-up devicefor accumulating a convenient longV length of the fabric; the take-up -device proper, the wind-up device and connections for operating these devices, necessarily rotate in unisonwith the needle carrier or carriers producing the fabric, and devices operated in connection with the take-up for deltecting undue slack in the fabric as a consequence of a press-olf which could be relied upon, were the needle carriers stationary,

In knitting machines of the kind referred said stress automatically determines stop- 1 930. Serial No. 464,249.

are not capable of being relied upon to cooperate with a rotary needle carrier or carriers. There is difficulty in poviding an effective connection-between the rotating elements associated with the take-up and the devices for 'driving the rotary elements of` the machine which shall operate in any rotative position of the needle carrier, take-up and winding devices to cause cessation of driving movement upon the occurrence of a so press-off at any regular position of the takeup, needle carrier and wind-up device.

One object of this invention is torovide a simple and reliable organization or putting a regulated stress on the* fabric'to take it. away from the needles, which shall be sensitive to slack operating in a limited segment of the 'course of fabric normally hanging from` the needles upon which it is knit, and to provide responsive devices transmitting an operative impulse to the driving devices of the machines to stop the machine when the fabric yields unduly at any part of the course being knit. Another object of the invention l is to provide improved means for maintaining this stress on the fabric in accordance with its production', so that in normal operation a steady takefup stress is a consequence of fthe growth, whereas undue; yielding to the page of the machine. Another object of the invention is to provide for mounting and driving a wind-u roll consistently with reliance upon a. ta e-up device between the needles and the wind-up rollfor-the above purposes. Another object of the invention is to provide for automatically resetting tho stop motion devices prior to resuming knitting operation after an automatic stoppage for any purpose; and a further object of the invention is to provide an'improved way for making the indications of `stop motion feelers at the needles effective to stop the machine, and to reset these connections after a stoppage from this cause. y

The invention will Inovv be explained in connection with referred species of mechanisni embodying 1t. shown in the accompanying drawings, in which l Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in radial secrolls;

tion through certain frameV and bearing elements `of the machine on the line 1-1 of Fig. -2;

ig. 2 is a plan ofv devices shown in Fig. 1, partly in section to display a take-up `frame and rolls;

Fig. 3 is a left side elevation of a pivoted take-up frame, rotary ring and mounting, showing a part of the connections to the stopping devices;

Fig. 4 is a detail similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in a position caused by depression 0f the take-up frame;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of parts shoWninFigB; Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section through a driving clutch mechanism for the take-up Fig. 7 is a right side elevation of the driving connection for the take-up rolls through the clutch devices shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section in elevation on a radial plane showing connections for'stopping the machine through indication of a feeler at the needle heads; and

Fig. 9 is a detail side elevation showing a connection between the stop motion knock-off devices and stop motion feelers at the needles.

any desired kind to provide for lmitting upon a radially disposed series of needles; the dial may carry other instruments of any kind for any usual purpose.

In the form shown the legs'l support a lower table 10 spaced from the table 2. The table 1() may be a substantial ring of metal carrying on its-upper face any kind osuit-l able columns or supports 11 for the upper table 2. As shown, one of these supports may be provided with a bearing boss 12 bored g for a main drive shaft 13, which may have-an outboard bearing or bearings at 14 and 15 in a bracket 16 fastenedV tothe column 1 1. As usual, the shaft 13 supports a normally loose pulley 17 "for a driving belt, which may have on its outer end a hand wheel 18, and is provided with a splined clutch element 19 having an operating collar 20 andv connected to any usual or preferred type of clutch and brake member adapted to be operated by sliding the collar 20 tothe left to grip the pulley 17 to the shaft 13, and to the right to release the pulley 17 from the shaft-13. The inner end of the shaft 13 carries a bevel pinion 21 meshing With a gear ring 22 bearing at 3 on the frame 2, said ring having' an annular seat for the needle cylinder 4.

To stop and start the machine the clutch collar 20 is moved by a yoke 25 operatedby a hand lever 26.

In a preferred arrangement the lever 26 is moved to-the left manually to start the machine, and moved to the right automatically by compression spring 27 surrounding a trip rod 28 passing through a hole in the cole umn 11 and having a notch on the far side (Fig. 9) for a trip lever 29, operated by grav- .ity or hand to engage the notch and hold the trip rod 28 during normal operation of the machine. The lever 29 is arranged to be' lifted out of the n'otch in the rod 28 upon the occurrence of any of the faultsof operation for which it is desired to stop the machine. When thehand lever 26 is moved to be operated u on by a fixed element of the bearing l5 to rake the machine parts (not shown). Any other suitable machine brake operated upon release of the rod 28, may of course be employed.

In the normal operation of the machine, fabric knit at the needles and passing over the verge at the top of the cylinder 4- is re- 'quiredto be given as even a' stress downwardly as possible and to this end is arranged to be operated upon by take-up rolls 30, 31 of any usual kind, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7, adapted to tension the fabric by gravity or gravity modiiied by the function of a spring. As shown', (Fig. 3) roll 30 is mounted in bearings in a frame 32 pivoted at 33 in brackets 34 on a rotary ring 35 which may be as shown, a circular rack having external teeth at 36 and having a depending iange 37 bearing in an annular recess in the table 10, engaging at one point of the periphery of the machine with a pinion 40 (Fig. 1) on a vertical shaft' 41 driven by a bevel gear 42 within a depending bearing braket 43 for the shaft 41, which bearing bracket also provides a bearing for a shaft 44 carrying a bevel gear 45 meshing with the bevel gear 42, and has fast thereon a bevel pinion 46 engaging and driven by the ear ring 22. The gear ratio of the system 40, 41, 42, 45, 46, 22 is such as to drive the ring 35 at the same angular velocity as the cylinder 4.

In the preferred form shown, the pivoted frame 32 with' the take-up rolls 30 and 31 may comprise two symmetrical opposite ends, of which only the right-hand member is shown the right, the clutch element 19 may as usual in Fig. 2, rigidly attached to the pivot shaft 33 and to a stiifening rod 32a. One of the heads of the frame 32 may be extended as shown at 32h. Fig. 7, to receive a pivot 32c l 45 operating'impulses to a 1,870,879 y a 3I 5 balance the spring 32 except when the spring is considerably compresse Theidler take-up-roll 31 preferably has reduced bearing spindles bearing in holes in A blocks 31a sliding in the frame 32 under the l inuence of compression springs 31b housed in the cap 31. Y.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 7, the

roll 30 is driven by a worm wheel 50, on' a reduced end of the roll 30 projecting through a bearing hole in the frame 32', worm wheel 50 being driven by a worm 51 having abearing in a brackete52 integral with or attached to the frame 32, the worm 5l having a reduced end integral* with or attached to a. bevel pinion 53 meshing with a bevel pinion 54 on the rejecting end of the pivot` shaft 33- for the ame 32. The' pinion 54 is driven by a bevel gear 55 on the' upper end of a vertical shaft 56 (Fig. 6) having a bearing in a 25. vertical hole in the projection 34a of the bearino' bracket 34" for the pivotI shaft 33 of the ta e-up frame. The projection 34a carries bored depending lugs 34u in which is mounted a fulcrum pin 34d for a lever 75 presently described. The shaft 56 further iinds a bearing in an anti-friction bushing 57 `loose in a hole in the gear ring 35, on which the bracket 34a etc'. is mounted, said shaft 56 alsov having a bearing in a hole in a pinion 58 having ac reduced hub 59 bearing in a bushing 60 mounted in a depending oil cup bearing 61 ofa bracket 62 mounted on thelower face of the gear ring 35. 1 Shaft 56 has a shoulder 56a bearing against an internal shoulder in a hole in the pinion 58, the hub of which is faced o at 58'L to bear on the top of the dependin bracket 61. v

The ushing- 57 is verticall movable on the shaft 56 for the pur ose4 o. transmittin 'ction clutch, pre erably of the multiple-disk type and preferably housed in a recess within the pimon 58. The inion 58 is the primary drive connection or the train of gearing ending at the take-up roll 30, and may be driven suitably as shown, by planetary revolution within a fixed internal gear ring 63 mountedon depending lugs 64 at suitable intervals on the under Side of the fixed table 10.

Driving impulses of theshaft 56 through provide a recess havin: longer diameter in which screws 65, hol g in place a co ver plate 66, takes mto notches A1n rojecting ears 67 of clutch plates thus ,heldp to rotate with the pinion 58 and between vertically free i,interveningA clutch plates having'- internal lugs prdjecting into key-ways 68 of the shaft 56, to be ut into fricticnal contact with the clutch dis s 67 by a vertical impulse transmitted Ato the pile of clutch disks by a compressor plate 69 upon which rests a collar 70.

which may in turn support bearing balls and the other member 71 of a thrust transmitter lconnection which preferably includes a light compression sprin 72 and a` screw collar 73 on the lower end o the bushing 57. p

The bushing 57 is acted upon by lugs 74 of the lever 75, which is forked to straddle the shaft 56, which lugs bear on diametrically opposite points of the plane face of the ,bushing 57. The lever 75 may have an adjustment screw 76 and lock nut taking against the under face of a weanplate 77 on the'frame 32. 1

These arrangements are such that doWnl ward motion of the take-up framev 32 in response to the growth of the fabric pinched between the rolls 30 and 3l, eXert-s pressure through the lever 75 and lugs 74 on the friction -clutch 67 etc., and results in operation` of the roll 30 until the frame 32 has risen to a predetermined point.` The fabric pinched between the rolls 30 and 31 may^-be spread by any usual form of internal spreader 180 mounted on any overhead rotary structure of the machine, such as the dial 6. v

A suilicient driving impulse is transmitted 'through the clutch and shaft 56 when the spring 72 has been placed under a light com,- pression by the operation of' the movable vbushing 57 and the lever 75. But ,the spring 72 is capable of further compression to accommodate astill lower position of the takeup fraine, such as will occur when the weight o .the heavy take-up rolls is not counterbalnced to a normal degree by the resistance of the fabric'tube hanging, from needles at the verge of cylinder 4 throughout the periphery of the tube. The stress transmitted through the fabric will be lessened by any rupture of the forming course on the needles at the cylinder verge or ap in the knitted fabric adj acent the forming course, and the take-up frame is free to move downwardly below a normal position -whenever this occurs through any substantial extent ofthe length 'of the 'forming course. This motion downvent its operation before the press-olf can eX- tend further than isV necessary to induce the motion of the take-up roll frame.

Itis therefore provided that motion downward of the frame 32 beyond a predetermined point shall determine stoppage of the machine after motion of the parts in this posirotation. While the devices for this purpose may be any devices establishing a connection to be operated-by the displacement,down-y ward ofthe .frame 32, a preferred coxis'truction comprises a transmitter ring" 80, prefer:

tion through a predetermined short angle of 1,25"

ably of L-shaped cross section, mounted to rotate on the upper surface of the gear ring 63, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7. If desired the ring 80 may be housed in an annular groove, or, as shown, be held in place by occasional stop screws 81, wit-h respect to which the ring 80 has freedom of motion to the extent of cuts 82 in its flange. The ring 80 is notched on its upstanding member as at 84, the notches having slopinglr edges, and being separated from each other by suitable angular distances less than the extent of permissible rotation of the lnachine after the occurrence of the press-oil1 and before stoppage. Y

'lhe ring 80 is stressed in a direction opi posite to the direction of rotation of the takeup frame by a suitable light spring or springs 85 reacting between pins on the flange of the ring 80 and pins fixed in the gear ring 63, Figs. 3 and 4.

1n order to transmit to the ring 80 motion in the direction of rotation of the take-up frame for the purpose of stopping the machine by connections v,to be described, one of the heads of the frame 32 carries a link 86, which may be made in two parts to be adjustable in length, having an end 87 provided with a slot 88 of sufficient length and position to determine the downward permitted free motion of the frame 32 without any actuation of the stop motion ring 80.`

An arm 143 which is mounted on and extends downwardly from the gear ring 35 may serve to carry suitable mechanism for actuating the stop motion ring. Mounted on this arm on a pivot 90 there may be provided an actuator lever 91 having a radially projecting pin 91n to take into any of the notches 84 and a nose 92 adapted to engage `under an adjustable latch end 93 of a holding lever 94 which comprises a short shaft 95 journaled-in a hole in the arm 143, and an inner end 96 having an inwardly projecting pin 97 taking into the slot 88 of the link 86, 87.

' The actuator lever 91 is preferably downwardly stressed by a light spring 98 and the latch lever 93, 94, 95, 96 may be stressed downwardly by light spring 99. These arrangements are such that whenever the pin 91a of the actuator lever is dropped, it moves ring 80 until the ring is stopped, whereupon the actuator rides out of the notch. .'When the actuator is lifted and the take-up frame 32 has been raised again to within its normal range of positions, the latch 93 may take over the nose 92 and hold the lever 91 lifted until the link 86,- 87 again depresses the pin 97. The relation of actuator 91, 92 to` the camsidednotches 84 permits resetting the parts after the ring 80 has been moved to determine stoppage, by moving the ring back on the gear 63 to its original position. This may bethe function of the spring 85 only, reactingon the pin 91a through the cani slopes of any of the slots 84, but it is preferred to make the resetting motion dependent upon the proper positioning of the knock-off parts and to that end, Figs. 3 and 5, the ring 80 may carry limit stops 101, 101 between which one end of a. lever 102, pivoted on a bracket 103 on the outer face of the gear ring 63, may take.

The other end of lever 102 takes into a notch on a drop rod 105 free in a hole in the bracket 103; this rod 105 is caused to drop by moving the latch 102 when the` ring 80 is picked up by the actuator pin 91; the rod 105 having droppedag-the latch 102 and ring 80 can not be returned to initial position until the rod 105 has been lifted.

Rod 105 passes through a hole in the right end of the knock-off lever 29, Figs. 2 and 9, and beyond the upper face of the lever 29 is provided with an adjustable stop collar 106. Unless 'the knock-off rod 28 has been moved to the left, Figs. 1 and 2, to bring its notch under the knock-off lever 29, the rod 105 will not be. lifted far enough .to bring its notch over the latch lever 102. Therefore, the operator of the machine can not reset the stop motion without engaging the knockoff rod 28 in proper position for automatic operation; nor can the rod 28 and lever 29 be properly positioned withoutresetting the stop motion devices comprised of the ring and connection to the frame 32.

The devices described provide for stopping the machine within the angular rotation represented by the distance between the notches 84 in the vring 80 on the occurrence of' the press-oil". There are, however, other occasions on which it is desirable to stop the machine; for example, the breakage or replacement of a needle, the improper position of a needle latch, or the accumulation of yarn or waste fiber in the needle throats. It is well known in the art to detectthese faults by a detector such as the pointed feeler 110, Fig. 8, which may be displaced with a vertical shaft 111 in a bracket 109 upon the occurrence of any of the mentioned faults of the operation. In the form shown, shaft 111 is provided with a latch 112 taking against a shoulder at the upper end of a short shaft 113 stressed upwardly by a compression spring 114 in the table 2 reacting on the under side of a fixed collar115 and against the top of a bushing 116 in which the shaft 113 as a bearing. There are as many brackets 109 and detectors 110, shaft 113 etc.@as desired about the machine; for example, as many as there are knitting waves or feed points.

The upward motion of the shaft 113 when the latch 112 is .released by the operation of the feeler 110 is relied upon to cause the rotary element of the machine to work the lever 29 and knock-off rod 28 to stop the machine. Referring to Fig. 8, shaft 113 carries an arm 117 having an end bored to slide on a stud 118 projecting downwardly from table -25 132 and actuate a horizontal bell-crank lever meshing with gear 'ring 63.

2. On the stud 118, and adapted to be moved va full roll may be removed and core 140 in against gravity by motion of the arm 117, a serted without releasin the fabric from contwo-armed rocker 119 can slide from the po-v tact with the winding 'ction surfaces. sition shown in Fig; 8 upwardly, whenever I claim:

5 the shaft 113 is released, to bring the rocker 1. Fabric take-up and stop-motion device 119 into'contact with one or more of the o'pfor use in knitting machines having rotating 4erating studs 120 screwed into the under side fabric-producing elements comprisin in of the gear ring 22 rotating with the cylinder combination, lrolls for drawing the abric 4. Encounter of the rocker 119 owith one of away from the fabric-producmg element the pins 120 is relied upon, through contact mounted for freedom of motion in response with a stud 121 projecting from a stop 1110-. to varying tension on the fabric; .means for tion annulus 122 in an annular groove on the operatlng the rolls for drawing off the fabricI under side of table 2 to move the annulus 122. according to the position of said rolls as con- As best shown at Fig. 9, annulus 122 may trolled by said tension; means causing the carry a cam 123 to -react with a bell-crank -said rolls to rotate in unison with the fabriclever 124 on a bracket 125 depending from producing element about an axis at an angle the table 2 to ride vdown the right-hand end to said rolls, a driving connection for the of the knock-off latch lever 29 and so determachine adapted to be released, and means mine stoppage of the machine. v operating asv a consequence of the bodily The ring 122 may be reset by hand, but in movement of the rolls when the tension on the the preferred construction, see Fig. 1, the fabric permits recession of the rolls from the rear end of the clutch shifting lever 26 is fabric-producing elements to a predeter-l degree to release said' driving connecprovided with a slotted link 130 operating a mined two-armed lever 131 to pull on a wir'e link tion.

2. Fabric take-up and stop-motion device 133 taking against one of the studs 121 onfor knitting machines having thereinincomannulus 122 to move it back to its normal bination arotary needle-bed and knitting deposition wheneverpthe lever 26 is manually vices', a frame having vertical freedom of reset again to start the machine in motion. motion and take-ug) rolls therein, and means Referring now to Figs. 1 and 7, the fabric for causing said r produced in the machine is wound up on a with, said needle-bed, means 'for driving a cylindrical cre 140 having a spindle 141 take-up roll controlled by the vertical' posifree to rise and fall in a slot 142'in each arm tion of said frame within certain limits, a of a bracket comprising diametrically oppodriving connection for the machine parts 85 site arms 143 fastened to the under sideof adapted to be released, and means including the ring 35, and rotating with the take-up a Connection freeO rotate tlll'ellgll e limited rolls and needle bed. The fabric roll on core angle with said frame adapted to be operl 140 is driven at a constant surface speed lessc ated upon the occurrence of a predetermined than the normal driving speed of the take-up vertical position of sald frame for releasing 0 rolls 30, 31, to avoid tension on the fabric be- Seid driving COIiIleCtOIl I 3. Fabric take-up and stop-motlon device tween the take-up rolls and wind-up roll to a degree having a material effect on the verfor knitting machines having therelnin eOmp tical position of the take-up rolls, as oom-` bination arotery needle-bed and knitting depared with the effect of the tension ofthe vieeS,-e. web take-up device adapted to impart fabric between the needles and the rolls 30, tension i70 the knitted Web, meallsfol callslllg 31. One way of hdoing this isas shown, to Seid take-11p deviee t0 IOtte ill UDSOD Wiilll provide traction rolls 145, 146 journalled in Said needlebed, means for driving the takethe arms 143 above a brace rod 147 connecting u? device eentlellelby the vertleel POSitlOll the' arms 143 rigid1y,'said rolls 145, 146 havo seid take-np devloe, a releaseble driving ing extended reduced ends bearing gears 148, COHQOCOD for the machine Parts a normally 149 meshing with a gear 150 attached to a Sta-tlollaly member Refillable t0 release .Seid

worm-wheel 151 driven by a worm 152 at the (lllvlllg Connectloll and n'aetllatorlotting lower .end of a shaft 1 53 in brackets on arm Unison .With the take-1P device lllfopel't' 143, and having e pinion 154 at its upper end. lvely connected thereto for movement into The lower actuating enga ment with said normally bracket may provide a box for the gear train. Stalilolllll'y mem l l5C'. release Said drlvilg The winding fabric roll rests on the web passconnection upon recession of the take-up eing within and abovetlie rolls 145,' 146.` The viee from the fabric producing elements to a web may pass around the member 147 if de- Plfletelmlllel (legreesired. As will be understood by those skilled 4 Fbllc talfeup 3nd Stop-m9151011 lv in the art, the friction of rolls 145, 146 ref01 use 111 'knittlng-maehnes havlng determines winding at a lconstant s ace fabrierpledlleillg elements lcomprising 1n speed and a constant limit of tension at combination, take-up rolls for drawing the which the rolls 145, '146 will slip. If the fabric away from the fabricrodu 'las rotating elei fabric is. passed around the'strut member 147, ment mounted for freedom o motion m reame to rotate in unison 95' sponse to varying tension on the fabric; means for operating the rolls for drawing off the fabric according to the position of said rolls as controlled by said tension; means for winding the fabric in a roll at a constant surface speed; means causing the said take-up rolls and winding means to rotate in unison with the fabric-producing element about an axis at an angle to said rolls, a driving connection for the machine adapted to be released, and means operating as a consequence of the rotation of the rolls when the tension on the fabric permits recession of the rolls from the fabric-producing elements to a predetermined degree for releasing said driving connection.

5. In a web take-up for knitting machines having a rotary needle-bed, a frame movable along the axis of said needle-bed and take-up rolls, and means for rotating said frame in unison with the needle-bed ona common axis therewith, a shaft, and a geantrain for drivmg one of the take-up rolls comprising a pinion drivenfrom a stationary annulus, said shaft and pinionbeing respectively fast to clutch elements adapted to be engaged and disengaged by stresses in the direction of said shaft, a lever in contact with said frame for operating said clutch, a spring between said clutch elements and lever, whereby said frame has freedom of motion beyond its range for operating said clutch, and a link and connections for stopping the machine operative at one position of said frame within said freedom of motion.

6.. In a web take-up for knitting machines havlng a rotary needle-bed, a take-up device of which the web-engaging part is capable of bodily movement approximately along the axis of the needle-bed, means for rotating sald take-up device in unison with the needlebed on a common axis therewith, a shaft and a gear train for driving the take-up device to impart tension to the web of knitted fabric, said train comprising a pinion driven from a stationary annulus, a clutch in said tram for determining transmission of motion from said pinion to said take-up device, connectmg means 'for causing engagement of the clutch upon recession of the web-engaging part of the take-up device from the fabricproduclng elements, said connecting means includingv a yieldable element whereby the take-up device has freedom of motion beyond its range for operating said clutch, and' means actuable by said take-up device upon further recession from the fabric-producing elements for stopping the machine.

r 7. Stop-motion for rotary-needle bed knittlng machines having a rotating web take-up with axial freedom of motion in response to web tension, comprising in combination power release devices, a ring colnection surrounding the axis of rotation of the .web takeup, a latch for said power release devices, and

a connection therefrom to said rin connection, and means rotating with sai take-up adapted to contact withand rotate said ring connection to work said latch on the occurrence of abnormal slack in the web.

rounding the axis of rotation of the web take-A up, a latch for said power release device and a connection therefrom to said ring connection, and an actuator rotating with said takeup adapted on response of said frame to slack web to contact with a notch in and rotate said ring connection to work said latch.

9. Stop-motion for rotary-needle bed knitting machines having arotary web take-up with axial freedom of motion in response to web tension, comprising in combination a power release device, a ring having camsided notches surrounding the axis of rotation of the web take-up, means operable by movement of the ring to actuate the power release device, an actuator rotating with the take-up and yieldingly urged into operative engagement with notches' in the ring to move the ring, a holding device normally in posifion to hold said actuator out of operative engagement with the notches of the ring, and a connection between said holding device and said take-up effective upon abnormal movement of the take-up for moving the holding device to release the actuator and allow the actuator to enter a notch in the ring to move the ring, a cam side of the notch thus engaged restoring the actuator to a position to be engaged by the holding device upon return of the take-up to a normal position.

10. Stop-motion for rotary-needle bed knitting machines having a rotating web take-up with axial freedom of motion in re-- sponse to web tension, comprising in combination a power release device, a ring cona nection surrounding the axis of rotation of the web take-up, a latch for said power release device and a connection therefrom to said ring c0nnection, and means rotating with said take-up for contacting with and rotating said ring connection to release said latch on the occurrence of 'abnormal slack in the web, said means including an actuator yieldingly urged toward operative engagement with said ring, a holding device normally preventing such operative engagement, and a connection between said holding device and said take-up for moving the holding device to release the actuator upon abnormal movementof the take-up.

,11. Stop-motion for rotary-needle bed knitting ma'chines having a rotating web take-up with axial freedom of motion in reholding device.

'tions o'f the take-up, a stop limiting the movement of the said impulse-receiving means, said impulse-receiving means inclu surfaces adapted to disengage the actuator and return it to a position to be held by said 12. A stop-motion for a rotary-needle cylinder knitting machine comprising a fabric engagingdetector rotatable bodily with the needle cylinder, said detector under normal conditions of knitting being lpositioned between 'predetermined planes but dropping below the lowest of said planes upon the occurrence of abnormal slack in the lniitted web, drive mechanism for the -needle'cylinder comprising a power release latch, and means including a ring ,coaxial with the needle cylinder for transmitting abnormal downward movement of the detector, occurring at substantially any angular position of rotation of the needle cylinder, to the power .release latch to actuate the latter.

13. In a' stop-motion device for knitting machines, a rotary web take-up, a ring surrounding said take-up, an actuator operable by said take-up and adapted -to be positioned by response of said take-up to slack in said web to contact with and move said ring, and power release devices having a latch connecteduto be worked by said ring when moved by said actuator. rA r 14. In a stop-motion device for knitting machines, a rotary web take-u a ring having ca m sided notches surroun ing said takeup, an actuator on said take-up adapted -tobe positioned byvresponse of saidtake-up in said web to enter one of said notches and move said ring, and to react with the notch entered to b e subsequently released, and power release devices having a latch connected to be worked by said ring when movedb`y said actuator.

15. In a `stop-motion devicefor` knitting.

machines, a rotary web take-up, an actuator movable bodily with the take-up, means for normally holding s aid actua-tor in an inoperative position, said means being releasable by response of said-take-up to slack in the knitted web, a normally stationary ringsurrounding said take-up, said ring` being engageable by and movable by, said. actuator I f when the: latter is released, a power release ing cam device, and a latch for the power release device operatively engageaable by said ring to be moved by the by the actuator.

16. In a stop-motion device for knitting ring when the ring is moved machines, a. rotary web take-up, a yring surrounding said take-up, an actuator.l operable by said take-up and adapted to be positioned by response of said take-up to slack in said f web to contact with and move said ring, a

lever connectedto said ring for limited movement therewith, 'aarod latched against motionby said lever, and power release devices adapted to be worked by said rod.

17. In a stop-motion device for knitting machines, a rotary web take-u ,.a ring hav- Aing cam sided notches surroun ing said takee up, an actuator operable by -said take-up and adapted to be positioned by response of said take-upto slack in the knitted web to enter one of said notches and move said ring, and

to reactwith the notch entered to be subse. Y quently released, a lever connectedto said ring for'limited movement therewith, a' rod vlatched against motion bysaidl lever, and

power release devices adapted to be worked by said rod.

1 8. In a stop-motion device for knitting 'machines, a rotary web take-u a ring having cam-sided notches surroun ing said takeup, an actuator operable by said take-up and adapted to be positioned by response of said take-up to slack'in the knitted web to enter one of said notches and-move said ring and thereafter to be released from'the notch by the action of the cam-side of thelatch, a

vlatch movable by said'ring as the ring is moved by the actuator,a drop rod normally held by said latch but released .there-from upon movement ofthe latch by the ring, a

knock-off rod and a :power release clutch control, means for urging the knock-oil' rod .to move in a direction to release the clutch to stop the machine, and a knock-off lever controlled by the said drop -rodand engageable in one position with the knock-olf rod to prevent release of the clutch durlng normal operation. A

19. In a stop-motion 'devlce for knitting machines," a rotary web takemp, ay ring hav- @ing cam-sided notches surroundlng said takeup, an actuator on said take-up adapted to be positioned by response of said take-upto -slack in said web to enter one of saidnotches and move said ring,jand to react wlth sald notch to be released therefrom, a spring opposingmotion of said rlng, a levenhavlng an end between limit stops on sald ring; va rod latched against motion by said lever, and a' power-release device worked by said. rod;

said rod having a part holding said lever and I notched. ring against resetting untilsaid rod -is restored to normal position.

20. In -a knitting machine, in combination, ajweb take-up, andactuator means ,responsive to slack web thereat, a power release de- .vice having a controlling trip and connections adapted to be operated by said actu'- ator means to. Work' said trip, devices for detecting abnormal conditions at the needles in said machine, and means operated by said detecting devices -for working said trip.

21. In a knitting machine having a rotary needle-bed, means rotatable in unison with the bed for imparting a tension to the axially moving knitted web, said means bein afdjusted to impart an approximately uniform tension to the web in normal perfect knitting, mechanism rotatable in unison with the needle-bed and movable axially in one direction in response to diminution 'of tension inthe web and to growth of the web, means for moving said mechanism in the opposite direction to maintain it within a normal range of positions during growth of the 'web in normal perfect knitting, said means being ineffective at least momentarily to restore said mechanism t`o its normal range of positions upon such diminution of tension of the web as is caused by a gap adjacent the forming course offabric, a power release device, and means for causmgoperatlon of the power release device when said mechanism movesl out of its normal range of positions..

22. In a knitting machine having a rotary l needle-bed, means rotatable in unison with the bed for imparting a tension to the knitted web, mechanism rotatable in unison with the needle-bed and movable axially .im one direction in response to axial progression of the web, means Afor moving said mechanism in the opposite direction to vmaintainqit with-V in a normal range 'of positions during growth of the web in normal perfect knitting, said means being ineective at least momentarily to restore said mechanism to its normal .range `of positions upon such abnormalI progression of a portion of the web as is caused by .a gap positions.

adjacent the forming course of fabric, a power release device; and means for causin operation of Ithe power.` release when sai mechanism moves out of its normal range of Signed by me at New York, N. Y., this 24th day of June, 1930."

HARRY ISWINGLEHURST. 

